Last Sunday was almost like FatherB次元官网网址檚 Day for two Langford men whose love of cars was on display on Goldstream Avenue.

Mike Nyeste and Trevere LeFeuvre, both of whom own restored vintage Morris Minor convertibles, worked on their vehicles with their dads, each of whom has since passed on.

With the two shiny little cars sitting side by side at the Langford Car Show, Nyeste told an amazing story of how he actually bought his 1956 Morris at age 15 and fixed it up with the help of his dad, Ernie. The plan was to use it to take his driverB次元官网网址檚 test, which he did.

B次元官网网址淚 got my license in this car and then sold it a short time later,B次元官网网址� said the Belmont secondary alumnus.

Nyeste never dreamed that it would take 31 years for him to find the orange car again and repurchase it. B次元官网网址淚 saw it on UsedVictoria. It was in Esquimalt and the guy had owned it for about 25 years.B次元官网网址�

That was a few years back and heB次元官网网址檚 since done more improvements on it, like new brakes and suspension, to make it a reliable everyday driver. B次元官网网址淚 take it off the road for a couple months in the winter to work on it,B次元官网网址� he said.

LeFeuvre, whose B次元官网网址渞etirementB次元官网网址� job involves training bus drivers to operate Alexander Dennis double deckers, bought his 1965 Morris back in 2003 as a B次元官网网址渢otal wreckB次元官网网址� and had it delivered to his home on a flatbed truck.

He undertook its restoration as a B次元官网网址渇ather-son projectB次元官网网址� as a way to connect with his elderly dad, Ted, who guided him on the project. Mechanical work included swapping out the original generator/hand crank for an alternator to charge the carB次元官网网址檚 electrical system, and changing it to front-disc brakes from drums.

Working in the wee hours of the morning in his garage with the door open, LeFeuvre painted his convertible its striking light blue colour. Unfortunately, he said, B次元官网网址�(Ted) passed on a week after we were done with the painting (in 2007) and he didnB次元官网网址檛 see the car fully finished. I promised him that I would finish it.B次元官网网址�

All told, LeFeuvre figures heB次元官网网址檚 got about $6,500 into the car, not including his own time, of course. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a labour of love,B次元官网网址� he said.

LeFeuvre and Nyeste appreciated the comments and looks from attendees at the Langford show, despite the fact their cars sat amidst dozens of American muscle cars. They noted that Morris was one of the brands produced by British Motors Corporation, or BMC, along with Austin, Austin-Healey, MG, Riley, Wolseley, and as such theyB次元官网网址檙e welcome to take part in local British car shows.

Nyeste flashed a big grin when asked how special it is that he reconnected with his first car.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 priceless,B次元官网网址� he said.

Aware that his wife has given him the time to work on the car in recent years, he said, the couple are looking for a project for him to work on for her. Glancing in the direction of a Chevy just down the street, he said, B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 partial to older Chevelles.B次元官网网址�

editor@goldstreamgazette.com